A New Kind of Custodial Agreement

According to a recent UK-based survey, 20% of divorced and separated couples have formal custody arrangements for their pats. Other couples are also writing the documents for custody and cohabitation, which some are calling “pre-pups.” In order for you to protect your custody of your pet, know the importance of having proper documentation.

Determining pet custody is done differently in court than for children, one reason why couples are finding a need to have formal documentation. It is easy for one spouse to take a pet and never have to give it back. Sometimes a spouse will do this just to annoy their ex.

In court, the judge will normally look at paperwork when it comes to determining who will take care of the pet. Some determinants of custody are the financial situation of each spouse, who formally adopted the pet and even any documentation of who paid for pet or grooming visits. It doesn’t necessarily make a difference who spent more time taking care of the pet if the judge cannot physically see that information.

Dennis Buonagura and Joseph Olshefski, a couple in NewYork City, arranged an agreement for their two pugs in the case of separation. The agreement included provisions for splitting up expenses.

Source: New York Post